The Deeper Question Toolkit: Turn Curiosity into Complex Thinking Term 2

Primary and secondary teachers, High Ability Practice Leaders, Gifted & Talented coordinators, curriculum leaders, APs and instructional coaches

Turn good questions into catalysts for stretch. This upbeat, practical workshop gives teachers a high-impact toolkit for framing questions that unlock deeper thinking, richer dialogue and sustained inquiry for high-ability and gifted learners. We translate research into practice—sequencing prompts with Webb’s DOK, using Depth & Complexity to raise cognitive demand, and deploying simple talk moves that make every student’s reasoning visible—aligned to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and the Capabilities.

Through rapid demonstrations, live rehearsal and subject-specific examples (English, Mathematics, Science and HASS 7–10), you’ll build question ladders, design probes that press for evidence, and plan routines for whole-class, group and individual work. You’ll leave with a printable Deeper Question Planner, DOK-aligned question banks by learning area, and a 10-day rollout plan to embed high-challenge questioning in your next unit.

Who it’s for Primary and secondary teachers, High Ability Practice Leaders, Gifted & Talented coordinators, curriculum leaders, APs and instructional coaches. Ideal for schools launching or refreshing high-potential provision and for PLCs embedding high-challenge questioning in everyday lessons

Pamela Burton is a highly respected educational consultant and leadership mentor with a distinguished career spanning leadership development, school improvement, curriculum innovation, pedagogy, and strategic planning across all educational sectors in Victoria. With a Master of Educational Policy Administration and over three decades of experience in education and consultancy, Pamela has designed and led landmark educational programs, including Women in Leadership, Pedagogies for High Potential Learners, and Curriculum by Design.

She has consulted widely across government, Catholic, and Independent schools, where her work has focused on empowering school leaders, building leadership capacity, and driving whole-school improvement through evidence-informed practice. Pamela’s strategic leadership in school review processes and curriculum reform is grounded in the Effective Schools research and supported by deep expertise in gifted education and literacy development.

Pamela is also deeply committed to supporting early career teachers as they transition into the profession. She delivers targeted workshops on effective relationship building, establishing purposeful learning routines, fostering positive classroom behaviours, curriculum planning, and lesson design. In addition to her workshops, Pamela provides ongoing coaching and mentoring for numerous early career teachers in Victorian government schools, building their confidence, professional capacity, and classroom effectiveness. This work reflects her dedication to strengthening the profession by equipping emerging educators with the too